Jessica Donahue

Just now, birchscott said:

My wife's application was approved!  Wow, what an indescribable relief. 

 

Unfortunately they did not allow me into the interview but I will have her summarize the experience here later.  I can say that they didn't even glance at any of the supporting documentation I brought. Most of interest to the AO was her travel history and I-551 stamp.  He probed as to why I didn't accompany my wife on a few trips outside of the U.S., but there was no issue there.  

 

Best of luck to everyone else!

Congratulations!!!!

13 hours ago, Eli_za said:

Hope you hear your approval soon. I looked up at the n400 application and it seems very tedious. Just looking at it makes me anxious and nervous again. Lol. But I trust God everything will be alright. 

You'll be fine!

I think the online application seems much simpler than the paper one, and I found it to be the simplest application of this process yet. 

A few details:

Before I made an account, I skimmed the video below.

Know that you can move around your online app as needed, return to sections to clarify or add information, delete uploaded files add others as needed (they just need to be under 6mb each). 

There is a section where you can upload as many supporting documents as you want.

You can also print out a copy and read it before submitting to see if you need to make any corrections.  

14 minutes ago, hobbitspouse said:

Anyone with an ongoing N400 application that has been approved in this thread?

Yes,  I applied online for the N400 in December when our window opened up, and I was just approved for the I-751, CSC.

10 minutes ago, MadMax101 said:

Hmmm.  These are the countries from the users who are getting approved:

 

Philippines

Australia

Vietnam

Tunisia

Germany

Vietnam

Liberia

 

Users with no country: PP1991, NinaG,Eli_za

 

 

I'm guessing it's not a coincidence that all the approvals are outside of central and South America but I guess we'll know once we see more approvals in the weeks to come. 

You can add Mexico to this list 😊

13 minutes ago, Chocobo said:

Yes, the next step from his bio appt was EAD approval.  His EAD had a bio appt (bio appt was 9/26/18).  The USCIS showed no updates after that until it updated to say that the card is being printed.

 

His AOS is still pending.  The bio appt for that was also 9/26/18.  USCIS updated to show "ready for interview to be scheduled" on 10/2/18.  We're still waiting for the interview on that.  

 

Our timeline is in my signature below, if that's any help.  Hubby is adjusting from a B2 visa due to marriage.

Congrats on the EAD!

6 minutes ago, adamj7 said:

So I should be including photos of our relationship in the adjustment of status packet? I didn't see that anywhere

Hi @adamj7, don't worry, it's not required, and you will not receive an RFE for not including this info.  However, after researching on vj, I ended upfront-loading all of our packages with photos, mail, evidence of trips, etc. and had good results. 

From what I read, most people only do this if they expect their relationship to be in doubt for some reason.  I did it because it gave me the illusion of greater control.

I wish you lots of luck with your process!

4 hours ago, Ayeshacharles said:

Hello everyone 

 

So I’ve filed for my AOS on the 31st of December and received the NOA1 on the 8th of January my NOA1 received date is the 2nd of January. I still haven’t received a biometrics notice, is this normal? My case is at the NBC. 

 

Do I need to call and make sure I have not missed my bio  appointment? 

 

Please advise thank you 😄

Yes, don't worry the notice will come!

17 minutes ago, adamj7 said:

Okay - so maybe (as K1visaHopeful says) I should think of it more as a table of contents so things don't get lost. And I'll do one for each 'packet'

 

Thanks everyone - I'll type them up and attach them! You guys are great!

I agree with the idea of including one for each section.  Also, think of the cover letter, as well as the descriptions of your photos, as a way to connect the narrative of your relationship.  it is a little extra space to emphasize or clarify what you are submitting and why, on top of adding the organizational element.

On 1/26/2019 at 10:21 AM, yesdrobledo said:

Hi everyone,

 

I just wanted to share that after submitting an email to expedite, we finally recieved our interview letter for my stepson. It's in 2 weeks!

Good luck with everything!!

Congratulations eveyone!!!

I would look for local stores, or online, to find some staple foods that he's used to, and which might not be available in your local grocery.  Finding restaurants can also be a nice adventure, depending on where he's from. Food is a huge comfort when your partner is feeling homesick, he can keep it in the pantry for a special day. 

Also, check your local library's website for their online resources.  Many have Gale courses (which have quite a range of online courses), professionalization resources and language resources (duolingo, rosetta stone, mango).  Also, they might have Kanopy, which is an amazing streaming site with films and documentaries from around the world.  Later, if he decides to naturalize, many have Procitizen or other resources to prepare for the civics and language test.

My wife became a big fan of podcasts, so you can look around and see which ones might interest him, they're great especially if his first language isn't English, but also to get a feel for the dynamics of this country.

Good luck with everything!

On 1/21/2019 at 2:38 PM, AnaidAaron said:

Hi everyone, 

 

can someone recommend me a good website where I can translate my Mexican birth certificate? Someone who will do the job to the dot and USCIS will accept. 

 

I know I can do it myself but I have no idea of what USCIS is looking for as far as the format, if they really want you to translate what’s in the logos, etc. 

 

Thanks guys  

These are the translations I did for my wife's process, she was complimented on their quality and had a speedy process. They are word docs, so you can edit them as needed:

17 hours ago, AnaidAaron said:

Hi guys, 

 

 

I’m all ready to send my AOS! Thank you guys for all of your suggestions you’ve always given me. 

 

Since the form on the website for AP expired on December 31st 2018, I was just gonna request EAD with nub AOS and send AP later on when the new form comes out. 

 

I know it says on the website I can use that form until they come out with the new one, but I’m scared the adjudicator won’t know this and denies my whole application just for this. 

 

 

Also, should I just put “Filing along with AOS” as my reason for filing, or do I actually have a to show proof of my travel plans? 

 

What do you guys recommend I do? Thank you!! 

I agree with @Alabamak1, file all three. It was really important for my wife feel like she could visit friends and family and travel in the event of an emergency (which unfortunately did happen). Just use the most up to date form from the website.

The explanation we gave was to be able to travel home in case of an emergency. The AP appears on your EAD card, so it's better to apply all at once.

Good luck with everything!

8 minutes ago, ankitpatel said:

Guys can you help me with your opinion if I should apply for n400? My wife is a US citizen. 

 

Arrived in 04/16

I-751 filed 01/25/18

Got 18 month extension letter, awaiting decision. 

 

Can I file for citizenship? 

Congrats 

Your eligibility will depend on the exact date of your greencard. 

Whether or not you "should" apply really is a matter of personal choice.  Given the current climate around immigration, we decided to go ahead with the process to have a sense of stability along with the rights and responsibilities that come with citizenship.

That said, if your "should" refers to possible delays in the I-751 process, my experience has been that it hasn't slowed down the ROC, I was just approved after 12 months which is earlier than expected.  I hear varying reports, most people say if you're going to do it to use the online application.

17 minutes ago, missileman said:

Domicile looks OK to me. The 3 shared homes won't be an issue. Her getting police certificates might be a burden.....be aware that she will have to interview in a country where she legally resides (not visiting) or her home country.

She will need police certificates from everywhere she has lived for a year or more since she was 16. 

12 hours ago, Kate21 said:

Hi everyone we just need some help. We’re about to file AOS and on the cover letter part it says the place of marriage, my question is should we put the county where we got our ML? Cause our ceremony is gonna be same place as our reception which is an event hall. TIA 

We included a cover letter and used the information from the marriage certificate.

12 minutes ago, theyellowlab said:

Hello.

 

My boyfriend and I met online on April 2018, we met in person on January 10th this year. We are a same-sex couple and we have an age gap, I am 27 and he is 53. I live in Brazil and he lives in United States. We are planning another trip soon, maybe April to celebrate our one year relationship anniversary. We are considering applying for the K1 Visa but we are not sure about a few things. How many visits do you guys think it's ok before applying? Is it ok to apply under Trump administration? We have a lot of proof. Pictures together in different places (except with friends, we will do that on our next trip), tons of chats (we chat everyday and we have two online dates on camera every weekend), his family will write a support letter for us (3 people), boarding tickets and restaurant/hotel recipes, tourist places recipes. I never met his family, only through Facebook.

 

On the first trip we spent 7 days together, on the next one we will spend 5 days together. 

 

Thank you.

Since same-sex marriage is recognized federally, it shouldn't matter who is president. As a same-sex couple going through an immigration process, we haven't run into any issues. In the current climate, I would just focus on strong evidence of your life together among family and friends.  

Also, since same-sex marriage is legal in Brazil, you might consider the CR-1 process (you may already have looked into it).  There are quite a few forums that compare the advantages and disadvantages of both process, this is one conversation: 

Good luck with everything!

18 hours ago, CG&LGG said:

Nothing for us yet. We're WAC18080. Filed January 22 and the last update on the website is "case was received on January 25." Tried using the old site that you guys keep talking about and it give the "At this time USCIS cannot provide you with information for your case." 

 

Congratulations to everyone who has gotten approvals!! We are so happy for all of you!

Good luck! I'm sure you will hear something soon😁

6 minutes ago, swji89 said:

Speaking of the N-400... looking at the instructions briefly it seems you have to submit statements etc. OR the IRS tax transcripts for the last 3 years under "documents referring to you and your spouse." Is that true? If so, that's huge in terms of prep time.

 

Can anyone speak to that?

That "or" does mean that you could submit either document. I submitted all of the documents requested in the hopes of a speedy process and to avoid any doubts about our relationship since you still have to prove that it was in good faith. Since I just had to add to my documentation for the ROC, it didn't seem to add too much extra prep time.

But, I am also sure some have submitted the minimum with good results as well.

31 minutes ago, szunk19 said:

Thank you for sharing this.

Did you file from San Diego or Lewisville, TX?

I filed from San Diego

2 hours ago, szunk19 said:

Those who got their approvals can they all update this spreadsheet that we had initially started?

It would be very helpful for the rest of us. 

 

Thank you

Thanks for putting this together, I couldn't figure out how to edit my self, but my info is the following:

CSC

1-8-2018     Filed

1-10-2018   NOA

No biometrics need letter received 5-12-2018

Case satus changed to "New card being produced" on 1-22-2019 (no interview)

On 1/20/2019 at 10:54 PM, Amelie123 said:

Could someone please tell me if you tried to upload document photos, taken with your phone instead of scanned copies? did it work? Also, anyone tried to submit Turbo tax return forms instead of IRS transcripts? Thanks a lot!

I made an album with the photos, 2 to a page, on Google Docs (like MS word) so I could add info and describe the events and then I downloaded the document as a PDF.  It's a little easier to organize them that way, since the online application scrambles your document order.  We have a lot of photos, so I uploaded a pdf for each year.

You can download your IRS transcripts from the gov website, and from what I hear, they are much preferred. If you have trouble downloading them, they usually arrive via USPS within 2 weeks. (https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript).

While I don't think it would affect whether or not you get approved, I do believe that there is a possibility that it would affect the time it takes.

11 hours ago, Eli_za said:

That’s good. Thanks for sharing that. I will be applying next month. I just didn’t know how to submit proof online. We should start a n400 link. Lol. 

10 hours ago, edpa said:

We scanned in some items (marriage license, green card, extension letters), others we downloaded and saved as PDFs (statements etc) was very easy to complete the form online and upload the docs!

I applied online in December, and I really appreciated the system. You can add as many evidentiary documents as you want, they just have to be under 6mb each.  It is easy to upload and delete documents as needed, and all of the letters they send you via snail mail are also available for download from your USCIS account, which is updated immediately (which was not the case for my I-751).  Also, I've read that if you receive and RFE, you can upload the information directly to your account.

12 hours ago, rfejzullari said:

So we were working on finishing up the filing for the N400 tonight, while were we on the internet we got an email with a status update for our I-751. We went and checked on the USCIS website and it looks like our application got approved and a card is being produced (see screenshot below). My spouse never went for biometrics and we did not go in for interview. 

Congratulations!

19 hours ago, John & Rose said:

If possible, you may want to consider a spousal visa.  Your K-1 will be approved if you can prove that you met at least once within two years of filing (I think you have that covered) and that you are both free to marry.  Those are the basic requirements for petition approval at USCIS.

 

Here is a complete breakdown of fiancee vs spousal so you can see the big picture.

 

K-1 vs CR-1 Full Analysis

 

K-1

More expensive than CR-1    

Requires Adjustment of Status after marriage (expensive and requires a lot of paperwork)    

Spouse can not leave the US until she/he receives approved Advance Parole (about 5-6 months)    

Spouse can not work until she/he receives EAD (about 5-6 months)    

Some people have had problems with driver licenses, Social Security cards, leases, bank account during this period    

Spouse will not receive Green Card for 10 to 12 months after Adjustment of Status is filed.

If you have red flags this may be the best place to start in case of denial.

Estimated timeline is approximately 8 to 10 months (NOA1 to Interview)  This is officially quoted as 6 to 12 months.

 

K-1 Fees

$535 - USCIS Filing Fee

$265 per person - DS-160 (Visa Application)

$200 to $400 - Medical Fee

$1,225 per person - AOS Fee (Includes EAD/AP if filed together)

$750 per child under 14

$680 per person - ROC Fee

 

 

$2,705 plus medical (K-1)

$2,170 plus medical (K-2 over 14 years old)

$1,695 plus medical (K-2 14 years old and younger)

 

 

CR-1    

Less expensive than K-1    

No Adjustment of Status  (I-485, I-131, I-765) required.    

Spouse can immediately travel outside the US    

Spouse is authorized to work immediately upon arrival.    

Spouse receives Social Security Card and Green Card within 2 or 3 weeks after entering the US    

Opening a bank account, getting a driver's license, etc. are very easily accomplished with GC, SS card, and passport.

Spouse has Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) status IMMEDIATELY upon entry to the United States

If you are truly concerned about a denial, the K-1 may be a better place to start.

Estimated timeline is 10 to 12 months (NOA1 to Interview) This is officially quoted at 12 to 14 months.

 

CR-1 Fees

$535 - USCIS Filing Fee

$120 - Affidavit of Support Fee

$325 - DS-260 (Visa Application)

$200 to $400 - Medical Fee

$220 - USCIS Immigrant Fee

$680 - ROC (if married less than 2 years at POE)

 

$1,200 plus medical (per person if married more than 2 years when filing)

$1,880 plus medical (per person if married less than 2 years at POE)

This is a great analysis, thanks for posting!